How do you calculate the load factor during a turn?

The correct way to calculate the load factor during a turn is through the relationship of the bank angle to the lift generated by the aircraft. In a turn, the load factor increases due to the need for additional lift to counteract the increased gravitational force acting on the aircraft as it banks.

When an aircraft is in a banked turn, the vertical component of the lift must equal the weight of the aircraft, while the total lift must be greater than the weight to maintain the turn. The relationship can be expressed mathematically with the cosine of the bank angle (theta). Thus, as the angle increases, the load factor also increases, following the formula Load Factor = 1 / cos(theta). This shows that as the aircraft increases its bank angle, the percentage of total lift being utilized to counteract gravity grows, resulting in a higher load factor.

Understanding this relationship is essential for pilots, as it affects aircraft performance during turns, specifically in terms of handling, stall speed, and structural load limitations. In essence, the use of cosine in the calculation serves to quantify the balance between weight, lift, and the geometry of the turn induced by the bank angle.